The impact of war

Abstract

"Abstract: War remains central to ‘normal’ thinking in society. Gestalt therapy may already (unwittingly) be a form of peace education. Fritz Perls was a survivor of war trauma. Many of those who survive war are wounded physically or emotionally in long-lasting ways. Traumatic effects of war, through intergenerational transmission, can last decades. The writer, himself once a ‘war baby’, presents a personal journey of ‘self-recognising’, exploring war’s effects on his own life and attitudes. He suggests how a Gestalt focus on polarities has a place in peace and war thinking. Key words: war, trauma, self-recognising, D-Day, peace education, violence, Fritz Perls, Gestalt history."